Thursday's Headlines: How the U.S. let the United Nations condemn Israeli settlements

With new monuments in Nevada and Utah, Obama extends his environmental legacy; Trump on alleged election interference by Russia: 'We ought to get on with our lives'; 'Singin' in the Rain' star dies one day after daughter Carrie Fisher's death; A rare visit to Raqqa front line shows how defeat of Islamic State is so close and yet so far;   The morning's most important stories, selected by Post editors   Top Stories How the U.S. let the United Nations condemn Israeli settlements Israel had been a third rail of U.S. politics for decades, but President Obama had nothing to lose because he wasn't running for office again. For the moment, according to senior U.S. officials, the administration is satisfied that West Bank settlements and their effect on the peace process are back on the international agenda. By Karen DeYoung  •  Read more » With new monuments in Nevada and Utah, Obama extends his environmental legacy President Obama has cemented himself as one of the most consequential — and controversial — presidents when it comes to conservation. His newest designations include two areas that have local residents divided over how the land should be used. By Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis  •  Read more »   Trump on alleged election interference by Russia: 'We ought to get on with our lives' The president-elect distanced himself from the Obama administration's plans to punish Russia and downplayed concerns about extracting himself from his wide-ranging business interests. By John Wagner  •  Read more »   Debbie Reynolds | 1932-2016 'Singin' in the Rain' star dies one day after daughter Carrie Fisher's death Reynolds, who was 84, starred opposite Gene Kelly in the 1952 classic "Singin' in the Rain" and was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." She was the mother of "Star Wars" actress Fisher, who died Tuesday. By Los Angeles Times  •  Read more »   A rare visit to Raqqa front line shows how defeat of Islamic State is so close and yet so far An operation to isolate the Islamic State's most symbolically significant stronghold in Syria is going well. But an attack to retake the city might be months away despite hopes in Washington that it would start before President Obama left office. By Liz Sly  •  Read more »   ADVERTISEMENT   Opinions   Memo to Trump: There can be only one president at a time By Ruth Marcus  •  Read more »   The good that could come from a Trump presidency By E.J. Dionne Jr.  •  Read more »   Americans (especially but not exclusively Trump voters) believe crazy, wrong things By Catherine Rampell  •  Read more »   A plan to make America 1953 again By George F. Will  •  Read more »   Financial advice is a thicket of conflicts. Wall Street wants to keep it that way. By Benjamin P. Edwards  •  Read more »   Trump wants new 'extreme vetting' for immigrants. That might be a waste of time. By Editorial Board  •  Read more » ADVERTISEMENT   More News   After Obama's final detainee transfer, about 40 would remain at Guantanamo The administration is preparing to resettle up to 19 prisoners before Jan. 20, but the president will fall short of his promise eight years ago to close the prison. By Missy Ryan and Julie Tate  •  Read more » An obscure E.U. regulation may have saved lives in the Berlin Christmas market attack The truck that killed 12 people after plowing into the market may have been stopped by an advanced braking system mandated by the European Union. By Adam Taylor  •  Read more » Why punishing Democrats for gun-control sit-in is dicey territory for Paul Ryan Any punitive measures the GOP House speaker takes against the Democrats' 26-hour protest in June could play right into their hands. By Amber Phillips  •  Read more » Duterte threatens to throw corrupt officials out of a helicopter — and says he's done it before The Philippine president, who rose to power on a promise to uproot his country's drug problem, has become known for his brash talk and public outbursts. By Kristine Guerra  •  Read more » Suburbs increasingly view their auto-centric sprawl as a health hazard As obesity and weight-related disease rates soar nationwide, planners in one Maryland county are striving to shape new developments that make it easier for people to get out of their cars. By Katherine Shaver  •  Read more » Putin's Russia has a museum dedicated to freedom — and people want to shut it down The Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center — dedicated to the country's first freely elected president — celebrates liberties won in the 1990s, a decade that many Russians would rather forget. As the 25th anniversary of the dismantlement of the Soviet Union nears, the drumbeat of disapproval has only gotten louder. By David Filipov  •  Read more » Fox News wonders about ending food stamps because 0.09% of spending is fraudulent Fox News had a discussion on whether the $70.8 billion aid program should be halted over $70 million in fraud. But government investigators have identified billions in potential savings in other departments, such as defense. By Philip Bump  •  Read more »         Share Today's Headlines:       Twitter      Facebook Trouble reading? Click here to view in your browser. You received this email because you are signed up for Headlines. For additional free newsletters or to manage your newsletters, click here. We respect your privacy. If you believe that this email has been sent to you in error or you no longer wish to receive email from The Washington Post, click here. Contact us for help. ©2016 The Washington Post, 1301 K St NW, Washington DC 20071